On your mark, Get ready, Get set and GOGOGOGO!!!!

Okay, here goes, I'm on my way.....I hope! There is more than 12 inches of cold, iced snow on the ground and I am starting the "new me", "trophy, trophy wife" body improvement routine.

I WILL lose weight, I WILL walk, I WILL succeed!

About 5 1/2 years ago, I did succeed and became a "trophy wife" for about 2 1/2 years, then I had some serious health issues [pancreatitis and gall bladder] and my doctor said to back off for a while with the "body beautiful" plan. And for once I followed his advice and now a while [2 1/2 years] is up. And I am starting it all over again! This time my incentive is not only to get healthy but, with what lies ahead in starting The McClure Guesthouse and with Spieth Photography's new look and business plan, I will need to be healthy to keep up with everything.

And to help achieve this goal we introduced a NordikTrack treadmill into our lives this past week. It is not something to be ignored, as it sits right in the middle of our dining room/kitchen. I suppose that is incentive enough to not eat as we have to walk by it every time we head for the kitchen. I guess Mike was pretty clever in establishing this placement! I even see it the first thing as I enter from our bedroom in the morning, so my goal is that I will walk before I open up my computer! However I have noticed that you can purchase some type of attachment to affix your laptop, hmmmmmmm. I usually surf about an hour each morning, an interesting thought: how many can surf and walk at the same time? And for an hour, time does seem to fly when surfing, this could be very good for walking! Of course it would be awhile before I could achieve this because I still have to hold on, don't have my bearings just yet.

Another bit of incentive is my annual trip to Florida with my Mom. Not that looking cute in a bathing suit is imperative, being comfortable is. We stay at a resort on the beach near Fort Lauderdale, but the age norm is 65-75 and many couples and widows like my Mom. It is truly a relaxing time. Mom has her daughters come with for about 10 days, ever since Dad died. I think she likes the warm fuzzies she gets there, since they had always vacationed there towards the end of their time together.

So with a bit of luck and a lot of perseverance, I am on my way to being my husband's Trophy, Trophy wife. Then, when we are retired like my parents were, we can go on a vacation in Florida and look good and be healthy.....Please wish me luck!

Oh and by the way Mike is "a walkin" too!!

Critter People

Cute, cuddly, comfy, crazy, curious, consoling, creepy, the Critters in our life are all of these. Cute...Rico a 4.8 lb., 2.5 year old Chihuahua who came into our lives to fill the void we would feel when our poodles went to the Rainbow Bridge. He has done exactly that and so much more.

Cuddly....Tommy my 7 year old marmalade cat, he is aloof but very cuddly, if Rico allows him to be. Comfy......Callie our adopted 12+ year old fluffy kitty, who came into our life from our dear friend Armie. We took her in to make it easier and comfy for Armie, but she has really made us comfy, when she looks at us we fondly remember our friend Armie because we "share" Callie, at night when she curls up at the foot of our bed we again are comfy. Crazy.....Tigger my orange 5.5 year old kitty, he was named after the Winnie the Pooh character because he jumps around as Tigger does and you never know what he will do from head butts, to sharing yogurt, to soft touches, to mad races throughout the house, to sneaking around to try to make friends (I think) with Callie. Curious.....Abby, no she is not a cat, she is Mike's 78 lb, 7 year old (today, Happy birthday!) yellow lab and she is most certainly curious, always checking out the neighborhood, our house and her pet siblings. She never stops! As a matter of fact she is now outside in this 8 inch snowfall checking things out, but please Abby stay out of the neighbors trash! Consoling.....Lucy our 58 lb., 4.5 year old yellow lab, (one of Abby's puppies) she was supposed to be my dog but her main squeeze is Mike, she is the dearest most consoling lab, quiet, gentle and loving quite different from her Mom. But she does adore her Mom!

Finally, Creepy....the mouse who continues to creep around not inside any longer but in the garage, we will catch you!

The lab's have kennels in the basement and prior to seeing Marley and Me spent much time down there, they are now spending more time upstairs with us. However the Alpha Critter in our home is Rico, the labs and cats never cross him, I guess he is the Male who rules, in this house! Hmmmmmm. (Please ignore this Mike:).

Except for the Creepy critter (although I am sure Mike LOVES laughing at me when the creepy critter comes around me and I react as I do) we love them all, through our years together Mike and I have been blessed with many loving critters: 10 are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge and I am sure there will be more critters in our lives, after all we are "Critter people" and we consider them blessings from God!

CHANGE

Aah the operative word these days. Yes there has been a "change" in our government, but everyday there is change everywhere. Much change is personal, such as marriage, birth, new home, new car, new job, death, divorce, foreclosure, job loss, job change.

For me change these days is the beginning of the end on the renovation of The McClure Guesthouse and now we are "changing" the look at Spieth Photography. And we are also renewing the operation of Spieth Photography. It is funny when you have so many elements in your life, how one can lead you to another and then even another. I think I am even going to "change" me!

We are so lucky to have an employee that has nudged us into the changes at work, we had been "talking" about doing them for such a long time and now we are changing because of her. Our other employee is in shock, I think, I have been told, she thought we would NEVER EVER do it!

Mike even says that I get stuck in a rut and never want to change and yes, he is right.

My hope is that with the changes at work and the introduction of the "changed", renewed McClure Guesthouse, I will evolve into a "changed" person and my life will be busy, but better than ever, no more ruts, a refreshed Photography business and a new business in The McClure Guesthouse.

Watch Out here comes the "changed me"! And Thanks to the "nudgers", Mike and Brittany.

Oh, and by the way..... Is there "change" in your life?

Is it fear of the unknown?

I have been very anxious for the past week. I was so worried something would go terribly wrong today. Well the day is almost over and everything has gone okay.

I am not sure why I have felt this way, perhaps it was because I really did not want to see this day come. But it is here and now we have to accept and continue on.

I do not like to say "I told you so" and maybe I won't have to but.....

....time will tell, just exactly what promises this new President will really be able to keep.

It is not that I do not like the new president, it is the misinterpretation I am seeing by many Americans. The President is simply a human being, ELECTED by the masses. He is not a god or savior that many are holding up this man to be by their actions and words. In my opinion and others, He is a man, who has only achieved who he is today, through knowing the "right people" .

My hope and prayers are that we will be safe and survive this man's tenure as president. It is a shame he is going to have to "learn" during this tenure.

And believe me when I say, I see this new president as an American, his skin color is transparent to me. My major concern is his, "lack of experience".

For once I hope I won't get to say "I told you so".

But may I say,

Good Luck and God Speed Mr President.

Mondays

Do you like Mondays? I hear from people who hate Mondays, all the time. For me Mondays are bright and cheery, because my work week most generally starts on Tuesdays! Photography studios are closed most often on Mondays since most weddings and special events are on Saturdays.

One great thing about my work week starting on Tuesdays is that people are in a much better state of mind since their week has already started. And I have had a very pleasant Monday, so the rest of my week goes well! [I hope]. People tend to tolerate "things" once Monday is past and that is good!

Another great thing about Mondays is I can get everything back in order at home to start the week off right...well I do try. One thing about the second and fourth Monday's is that I have my Girl Scout meeting. And not having to work prior to the 3 PM meeting enables me to prepare. And that is important, since there are 19 girls in our troop from 5 to 15 in age. It is a multi level troop and keeps Patty [my co leader] and I on our toes. The girls energy is unbelievable! I can't imagine any of them having a bad Monday. Oh to be young again.

I guess I could blog about "having to work Saturdays" and what a drag it is, but ending many of my weeks with a celebration makes it worth it. And then I get to really enjoy my Mondays. Why not let me know how you feel..Mondays or Tuesdays. And no matter what, Have a good one! Monday or Tuesday that is.

An Interpretation, perhaps.

Sometimes when you express yourself do you get misinterpreted? I find more and more that is happening all around me. Perhaps I do not communicate right, or people just are not paying attention, because they have so much on their minds. I find that it seems like we are really living in an instant, ready while you wait world these days. You have to make sure to know your exact place, before you can be receptive to anyone or anything else.

Financial worries in the headlines, lost jobs, lost income, lost people. Perhaps it really is time that I stop, look and listen for the betterment of others, not just for me.

I want to take a step back to the simple life, where you can take time to "smell the roses" and enjoy all of your life just as it is. No worries, no deadlines, no attitudes. Oh, listen to me, this is not the real world for sure! And I am sure I will be misinterpreted. But perhaps if we all did take a bit of me time, our worries may fade a bit and we could enjoy the beauty all around us, the gifts from God. I wonder, if we all did take this bit of me time, if God just might then bless us all a bit more, because he knows we are appreciating all that he has blessed us with. Please, take a moment and do realize you do deserve me time. Try it, you just might like it! I think I will.

The New Year Is Here!

So it is now 2009,

it's going to be really fine!

A new business is almost here,

what a way to start the new year!

A step back in time it will be,

We really hope all will agree.

A time that was probably tough,

but all did survive it without fluff.

Just imagine how it could be,

to get back to a life that is free,

from stress, anger and fear,

full of love and good cheer.

We hope that is how you will feel,

and get nice feelings that are real.

Check out our old place that is new,

we've created it all just for you!